Apparatus for dispensing fabric articles



Nov. 8, 1960 Y J. H. JANSON APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FABRIC ARTICLES Filed Sept. 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

INVENTOR. JAMES H.JANSON ATTORNEY FIG. 3

Nov. 8, 1960 J, H. JANSON APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FABRIC ARTICLES Filed Sept. 2a, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. JAMES H. JANSON FlG.

ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1960 J. H; JANSQN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FABRIC m'xcms Filed Sept. 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.

FIG.

R mm 8 WM WA J H s E M A IU FIG. ll

ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FABRIC ARTICLES James H. Jansen, Wichita, Kans., assignor to Associated Eompany, Inc., Wichita, Kans., a corporation of ansas Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 763,657

3 Claims. (Cl. 194-4) This invention relates to dispensing, and to apparatus for such. In a more specific aspect, this invention relates to fabric article dispensing means which acts to deliver a fabric article upon the insertion therein of another fabric article and operating the means. In still a more specific aspect, this invention relates to new means for dispensing clean wiping cloths, especially cotton wiping cloths, upon the insertion into the dispensing means of a like but soiled wiping cloth. In yet a more specific aspect, this invention relates to such dispensing means which are operated mechanically, desirable from a safety as well as an operation standpoint.

Fabric article dispensing apparatus is known in the prior art, and such apparatus is known for the dispensing of wiping cloths, usually made of cotton and used in garages, machine shops, refineries, factories, and the like. Specifically, Patents Nos. 2,713,931 and 2,856,051 to W. L. Russell disclose and claim fabric article dispensing means which are particularly desirably used to dispense such wiping cloths upon the insertion therein of a soiled and similar wiping cloth. The new apparatus of this invention is an improvement structurally and operationally over the devices and apparatus disclosed and claimed in the Russell patents. The main purposes of wiping cloth dispensing means of this nature is to prevent loss of wiping cloths by the company supplying and laundering same and by the owner of the business wherein they are employed, and to isolate and pinpoint the handling of the wiping cloths both from a servicing and dispensing standpoint. In providing for dispensing means for the wiping cloths, the general idea is to prevent and overcome carelessness on the part of the employee worker in that his soiled wiping cloth must be deposited in the dispensing apparatus in order to obtain a clean and unused one.

While the fabric article dispensing means of Russell is satisfactory, and a decided improvement over other functionally similar means of the prior art, it is not as completely reliable as the new dispensing means of the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Labor cost is high, and the elimination of attention of any kind by the cloth supplier and launderer is very economical from an operational standpoint, and makes the operation of the particular supplier and launderer economic to a maximum extent. The new fabric article dispensing means of my invention is particularly desirably used to dispense wiping cloths, and the simplicity of its operating mechanism makes it very economical to manufacture, reliable in use, and easy and inexpensive to install and service. The simplicity of structure which I have achieved is marked from a production, operation and servicing standpoint, and this has been accomplished while still maintaining a practically fool-proof dispensing apparatus, one which cannot be made to function by inserting therein other than a fabric wiping cloth, particularly a cloth made of cotton. The new fabric article dispensing means of my invention disclosed and claimed herein has been thoroughly tested and proven to be reliable over long periods in use. Solid articles of bulk, paper, refuse, and the like, cannot be hired States Patent O ice used to operate the new improved dispensing apparatus of my invention, and the employee workman cannot obtain more than one clean cloth by retrieving the soiled cloth inserted into the dispensing means.

The new apparatus of my invention for dispensing fabric articles has a receiving member which has means constructed and operative to catch a fabric article contacted therewith. Preferably this receiving member is mounted in a cabinet housing which has a chute for receiving a soiled wiping cloth, and a portion of the receiving member extends into this chute to contact and catch the fabric article dropped therein. A dispensing member is provided, and this dispensing member has means to remove a fabric article, perferably specifically a clean wiping cloth, from a stack of same upon operating the dispensing member. Operating means are provided, and they are constructed and operative to operate the receiving member and the dispensing member. Lever means are employed, and the apparatus of my invention utilizes arm member means which has catch means. These arm member means are constructed and operative to catch and hold the lever means of the apparatus, and the arm member means are actuated by a fabric article in contact with the arm member means and on the receiving member. This actuation results in the release of the lever means, to in turn allow placing the dispensing member in cloth pick-up and delivery position. The new apparatus of my invention is constructed and operative to remove a fabric article from the stack of same upon placing another fabric article on the receiving member of the apparatus and operating same.

It is an object of this invention to provide new dispensing apparatus.

Another objectof this invention is to provide new dispensing means for fabric articles.

It is another object of this invention to provide means for dispensing clean fabric articles, particularly clean cotton wiping cloths, upon the insertion into the dispensing means of a like or similar but soiled fabric article and operating the dispensing means.

Still another object of my invention is to provide such dispensing means and apparatus which is operable by mechanical means solely, eliminating the danger of ex,- plosion or fire from cotton wiping cloths soiled with in, flammable materials.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide such dispensing means and apparatus which is mechanically simple, economic to manufacture and sell, reliable in use, and easy and economic to repair and maintain.

Other objects and advantages of the new means and apparatus of my invention for dispensing will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure.

Drawings accompany and are a part of this disclosure. The drawings depict preferred specific embodiments of the new dispensing means and apparatus of my invention for dispensing fabric articles, particularly designed to dispense cotton wiping cloths therefrom upon the insertion therein of a like or similar but soiled cotton wiping cloth and operating the dispensing means and apparatus, and it is to be understood that these drawings are not to unduly limit the scope of my invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an outer view in perspective, with some inner operating mechanism outlined thereon in dotted lines, of a preferred specific embodiment of the new fabric article dispensing means and apparatus of my invention, such being designed to preferably dispense cotton wiping cloths.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view through the apparatus and in cross section, especially showing the receiving member of the apparatus and upper arm member means in position to operate, and with a cotton wiping cloth (in dotted lines) on the receiving member, after such cloth has been inserted into the upper opening of the cabinet 'housing.

having been dispensed from the cabinet housing .bythe dispensing member, and ready-for withdrawal -by an employee operator.

Fig. 4 is an'enlraged side elevation view of the operating lever and are member means and the dispensing andreceiving member of the apparatus, and in position for receiving a soiled wiping cloth on the receiving member,

the position of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view of the control and operating means of the apparatus and the receiving member and dispensing member thereof when in an intermediate operating position with the wiping cloth :(dotted lines) on the receiving member and having pivoted the operating arm means to release the lever .means of the apparatus.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view of the same operating means and receiving member and dispensing member when in nearly over position of the receiving member, and with the dispensing member in position to turn to pick up and deliver a clean wiping cloth from the stack of same in the housing and chute of the dispensing apparatus.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the arm operating means shown in the other views of the drawings in side elevation.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevation view of the dispensing member of the apparatus and operating means operatively mounted and connected therewith. The positions of Figs. 8 and 4 for this assembly are the same.

Fig. 9 is view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation view of the dispensing means for picking up and delivering a clean wiping cloth with mounting means therefor shown in cross section.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation view enlarged of the dispensing member and operating means therefor when in the position of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevation view of thedispensing member and operating means therefor when in the position of Fig. 6.

In the following are a discussion and description of the new apparatus and means for dispensing fabric articles of my invention. This discussion and description is made with reference to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/ or structure. It is to be noted that the following discussion and description are of preferred embodiments of the new apparatus of my invention to dispense fabric articles, and it is to be understood that such discussion and description are not to -unduly limit the scope of my invention.

The new wiping cloth dispensing apparatus of my invention is preferably housed in the closed cabinet 14. The dispensing apparatus is actuated for operation to deliver a clean wiping cloth by inserting a soiled one of such cloths into cabinet 14 and into a chute therein preferably covered by a hood 16. Cabinet 14 has an opening 18 the-rein in the bottom end of the chute out of which the introduced soiledwiping cloth is returned should it fail to catch in position to actuate the dispensing mechanism. Also, cabinet 14 has a slot-like opening 20 therein through which is dispensed for hand withdrawal the clean wiping cloth dispensed by the dispensing apparatus. A hand crank 22 having handle 24 is on the outside of the cabinet 14, such crank and handle being used to operate the dispensing apparatus after the soiled wiping cloth is inserted into cabinet 14 under the hood 16 and through the receiving chute therein. in order to be able to getat the" operating mechanism within cabinet 14 easily, it has been found desirable to hingedly mount the top 26 of cabinet 14 at the rear thereof. Then the top 26 can be properly secured by latch and lock means 27 on the front of cabinet 14. Also, the lower portion of cabinet 14 preferably receives and stores soiled wiping cloths, and a front cabinet door 28 preferably closes this portion of cabinet 14 and provides for getting fiIltQ: the cabinet to remove the soiled wiping cloths introduced therein in operating the dispensing apparatus to obtain a clean wiping cloth.

A receiving member 31 islimitably ro-tatably mounted in a suitable manner within the cabinet 14. This receiving member turns inwardly and back outwardly on a shaft 33, and crank 22 and handle 24 on shaft 33 are employed to turn the shaft and thus the receiving member 31 when in the position of Figs. 2 and 4, and when a soiled wiping cloth 37 is dropped into cabinet 14 under the hood 16 and into the chute in the cabinet. Suitable and conveniently mounted stop means can be mounted in the cabinet to limit the rotation of receiving member 31 between the position shown in Fig. 4 and that shown In Fig. 6.

Roller member 40 is the dispensing roller, and it is suitably rotatably mounted in cabinet 14. Preferably this is accomplished by fixing the roller 40 proper to turn with shaft 42, and with shaft 42 preferably bearingly mounted in brackets 44 secured in a suitable manner to the front panel of cabinet 14 between top 26 and lower door 23-.

Asprocket 47 is fixed on shaft 33 to turn therewith and with receiving member 31. Another sprocket means 49 is ,mounted on shaft 42 to rotate freely thereabout, and to be engageable with shaft 42 in operation to turn same and thus dispensing roller '40. A link chain 51 engages and works in combination with sprockets .47 and 49. This link chain 51 is suitably anchored in cabinet 14 by spiral springs 53 and 55 at the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively. Spiral spring 53 operates in ten sion, and his put in greater tension as shaft 33 and sprocket 47 are turned clockwise by crank 22'through handle 24 thereof. Upon such turning sprocket 49 turns counterclockwise as forced thereby through link chain 51. Upon release, spiral spring 53 then exerts force to retract link chain 51, thus turning sprocket 49 clockwise and sprocket 47 counterclockwise toplace receiving member 31 inthe position of Figs. 2 and 4. Spiral spring 55 also acts in tension, and while not necessary to the operation of the mechanism, it is'preferable to make certain that "link chain 51 stays in engagement with sprockets 47 and 49t0 provide for sure operation of the dispensing mechanism. The outer ends of spiral springs 53 and 55 are suitably fixed'by such as pin means to cabinet 14. This is the operating means by which the dispensing mechanism is operated through crank 22 having handle 240m the outside of cabinet 14, and of course, crank 22' is turned clockwise for operation, being returned to operating position upon the retraction of link chain 51 by spiral spring 53.

A member 60 is suitably secured to shaft 42 to turn therewith, such as by welding member 60 on shaft 42. This member 60 has a notch 62 therein which is engaged by dog 64. Dog 64 is pivotally secured, such as by pin 66, to member 68. Member 68 is fixed on the hub 70 of sprocket 49 in any suitable manner, such as by welding it thereto. Of course, member 68 rotates with sprocket'49 around shaft 42. Shaft 42 and thus dispensing roller-4t) is turned for operation through force exerted on sprocket 49 by link chain 51 when dog 64 engages notch 62 in member 60 in turning engagement, and with such engagement, turning crank 22 through handle 24 results in turn ing roller 40 through link chain 51 to a position forroller 40 to further turn to pick-up and deliver a clean wiping cloth 70 from-stack 69 of same maintained in cabinet 14, and to deliver clean wiping cloth 70 to slot opening 20 in the front of cabinet 14 for hand withdrawal therefrom by the employee operator. Roller 40 preferably has teeth 72 thereon to pick up and so deliver clean wiping cloth 70.

An arm member 71 is suitably mounted on shaft 42 to turn same, such mounting as by nut and bolt means 73. A relatively strong spiral spring 75 is suitably mounted in one end at 77 on cabinet 14. This end is fixed. The other end of spiral spring 75 is swivelly mounted on the outer end of arm 71 through the use of pivot-type means 79. Spiral spring 75 acts in tension. In the position of Figs. 4 and 5, spiral spring 75 is not in tension, except as desirably required to maintain it in position. Spring 75 is put in tension upon the turning of roller member 40 through chain 51 and sprocket 49, and with dog 64 in engagement with slot 62 in member 60, because arm 71 turns with shaft 42 and roller member 40. In operation, arm member 71 is turned by the chain 51 and sprocket 49 assembly to the position of Figs. 6 and 12. This position is so that the axis of pivot means 79 is just past center when considered with the axis of arm 71 and mounting point 77 for spiral spring 75. At this point, spiral spring 75 is in maximum tension, and the spring then retracts to continue rotation of roller member 40 rapidly to result in the roller member picking up a towel from the lower end of the stack 69 of same, by grasping the towel with teeth 72 on roller 40, thus passing the towel on roller 42 to slot 20 in cabinet 14 where the employee operator can grasp it with his hand and extract the entire towel 70 from the cabinet.

The stack of clean wiping cloths 69 is maintained in cabinet 14 in chute 74, with the wiping cloths of the stack in folded position, preferably as shown in Fig. 3, so that an end of the towel will be extended through slot 20 upon operation. A track 76 is suitably mounted in cabinet 14, and this track 76 supports Weighting means 78 in roller relation thereto. This weighting means 78 then contacts the stack 69 of wiping cloths to force the cloths down chute 74 as wiping cloths individually are removed from the bottom portion of the stack. Roller member 40 is positioned at the lower end of stack 69 and chute 74 to support stack 69 on its lower end and maintain the wiping cloths in the chute 74.

The new actuating and control means for the new dispensing apparatus for fabric articles of my invention has proven particularly desirable in use. This mechanism and the assemblies thereof is best shown in drawings Figs. 4 through 7 and 11. Arm member means 82 is suitably pivotally mounted in cabinet 14 to pivot at point 84 therein. A shaft 86 is desirably used to mount arm member means 82 in cabinet 14. The arm member 82 is mounted so that the outer end portion is in close proximity to the face of receiving member 31 during its operation. Arm member 82 is pivoted in operation by a soiled wiping cloth 37 passing thereunder on receiving member 31 and while the receiving member 31 is being turned by the employee operator through crank 22 and handle 24. The arm member preferably has a tooth or teeth 83 which will grasp the soiled wiping cloth 37 to prevent an operator employee from withdrawing soiled wiping cloth 37 after it has been used to pivot arm 82 in operation. See Fig. 5 of the drawings. Also, arm member 82 has a central slot 90 therein through which teeth 35 pass upon return and repositioning of receiving member 31 from the complete over position of Fig. 6 to the normal at-rest position of Figs. 2 and 4. And, arm member 82 preferably has relatively sharp projecting teeth 92 to remove a soiled wiping cloth 37 from receiving member 31 should it be retained thereon after operation, instead of dropping off and falling into the lower portion of cabinet 14. See Fig. 3 of the drawings. Pivoted arm member 82 has a catch portion 94, which in operation rides up and down in a slot 96 within cabinet 14.

This catch portion 94 of arm member 82 engages the lever operating means which is used to control the dispensing apparatus. The lever operating means consists of an upper first lever assembly having a pivoted member 99, pivoted at point 101 in cabinet 14, and having a notch 103 therein in which catch 94 of the pivoted arm member 82 is engaged in operation. When engaged, catch 94 prevents a movement of lever member 99 and the entire lever assembly.

A lower lever member 105 is mounted in cabinet 14 to pivot at point 107. This lever when in down position, that is, the position of Fig. 4, permits dog 64 to pass in relation to member 60 and notch 62 therein without dog 64 engaging member 60 in notch 62, and thus the roller 40 will not rotate upon movement of sprocket 49 through link chain 51. This lever member 105 has to be in up pivoted position, the position of 'Fig. 5, before dog 62 will engage in turning relation to member 60 and shaft 42, and this occurring, link chain 51 and sprocket 49 Will act to turn shaft 42 and thus roller 40, and as set forth hereinbefore, dispensing roller member 40 will turn to dispensing position to be further turned by the retraction of spiral spring 75 swivelly attached to arm member 71 through pivot-like means 79.

Lever members 99 and 105 are operatively connected by a rod 110, the rod being pivotally secured to the outer end portion of lever member 105 and to an arm 112 secured to lever member 99 in any suitable manner to move therewith. A spiral spring 114 is secured in one end portion to rod 110, and the other end portion is suitably secured in cabinet 14. This spiral spring 114 acts in tension, and in operation works to pivot lever member 99 to the right (Figs. 4, 5 and 6), and to raise connecting rod 110 and pivot lever member 105 upwardly to place same in position to cause the engagement of dog 64 and notch 62 of member 60, thus positioning the assembly for turning roller dispensing member 40 to position to pick-up and deliver a clean wiping cloth from stack 69 of same to the slot 20 in cabinet 14. This action of spiral spring 114 and-the lever assembly occurs when a soiled wiping cloth 37 on receiving member 31 is passed under arm 82 to pivot same and release lever member 99 by disengaging catch 94 therefrom. It is preferred to further provide for this lever operation by mounting another spiral spring 116 about connecting rod 110, that is, to additionally urge connecting rod 110 upwardly and thus pivot lever member 105 upwardly upon release of lever member 99 from engagement with catch 94.

From the position shown in Fig. 6, the roller member 40 is turned by retraction of spiral spring 75 to pick-up and deliver a clean wiping cloth. Member 68 is cut away at 120 as shown, so that in such pick-up and delivery operation the trailing edge at the cut away portion will contact lever member 105 to force same downwardly, and thus connecting rod 110, to pivot lever member 99 and to reposition same for engagement with catch 94 of arm member 82 in the notch 103 of the lever member 99. After soiled wiping cloth 37 passes completely under arm 82, the engagement of catch 94 in slot 103 can occur, and this happens in operation. With the resetting of the lever control mechanism, spiral spring 114 is placed in more tension for subsequent retraction and further operation upon insertion of another soiled wiping cloth 37 to operate arm 82 and the rest of the delivery mechanism. With the return of receiving member 31 to the position of Figs. 2 and 4, the mechanism is ready for such additional receiving of another soiled wiping cloth 37 and further operation of the mechanism to dispense a clean wiping cloth from stack 69 of same. In returning to receiving position, teeth 35 of the receiving member 31 pass through slot 90 in arm member 82.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of this invention can be made, or followed, in the light of this disclosure and discussion, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the disclosure, 0 from the scope of the claims- I claim:

1. Mechanically operated apparatus for dispensing clean fabric towels therefrom one at a time upon inserting a soiled fabric towel into said apparatus, which comprises, in combination: cabinet means; a chutewithin said-cabinet means, said cabinet having an opening into an upper end portion of said chute to receive an insertedsoiled towel and an opening into a lower end portion of said chute to receive a returned soiled towel; a towel receiving member mounted in said cabinet to rotate limitably, said towel receiving member having teeth constructed and operative to catch a soiled towel inserted into said chute when said member is in normal at-rest position; an inclined chute within said cabinet means constructed. to hold a stack of clean towels; means constructed and operative to move said towels down said inclined chute as towels are removed from said stack at the lower end portion thereof; an elongated cylindrical member rotatably mounted in said cabinet means and having teeth on the face thereof and constructed and operable to support and retain said towels in said inclined chute and upon rotation to pick up a towel from the lower end of said stack on said teeth and deliver same, to an opening in said cabinet means; a first sprocket mountedand disposed to turn with and rotate said towel receiving mem ber; second sprocket means having dog catchmeans freely mounted on the shaft of said cylindrical member on one end portion and constructed and operative to turn with and rotate said cylindrical member to a cocked position and to rotate free of said cylindrical member; dog means mounted on said shaft of said cylindrical member to turn therewith and constructed and operative to engage said catch means on said second sprocket means to turn said cylindrical member to said cocked position and to disengage from cylindrical member turning enga'gement; a hand crank operating member connected to turn said towel receiving member and projecting from said cabinet means; a chain passing over said first sprocket and said second sprocket means, said hand crank operating member being constructed and operative to move said chain upon operation to turn said towel receiving member and to turn said cylindrical member to said cocked position, and said chain being constructed and operative to retract and rotate said towel receiving'member back to said normal position; a fixed spiral spring attached to said cylindrical shaft at one end to turn same, said spiral spring constructed and operative to be extended upon rotation of said cylindrical member to said cocked position and to continue to rotate said member to pick up and deliver a clean towel from said stack upon retraction of said spring when said cylindrical member is released from said cocked position; first lever means having catch means pivotally mounted in said cabinet means; spring loaded arm member means pivotally mounted in said cabinet means, an outer end portion of said arm member means positioned in close relation to said towel receiving member and engageable with said catch means of said first lever means .to hold same, :said arm member means and towel receiving member being positioned and operative so that said end portion of said arm member means is raised by the passage of a :soiled towel thereunder upon rotation of said towel receiving member having same thereon and to thereupon :-release said first lever means; second lever means pivot- :ally mounted in said cabinet means, operatively con- :nected to said first lever means in moving relation and having a portion engageable to force said dog catch 'means on said second sprocket means into turning engage- :ment with said dog means on said shaft; said second sprocket means constructed and operative to engage said second lever means to pivot and reposition said first lever means in engaged position with said arm member means upon rotation after said pick-up and delivery of a clean towel from said stack of :sa'me;;said apparatus from said cabinet means a clean towel upon inserting a soiled towel into the upper end portion of said firstnamed chute and operatingsaid hand crank operating member; and said cabinet meanshaving a compartment for receiving and storing inserted soiled towels.

2. Mechanically operated apparatus for dispensing a fabric article therefrom upon inserting a similar fabric article into such apparatus, which comprises, in combination: cabinet means; first chute means within said cabinetmeans, saidcabinet having openings into the upper end and lower end portions of said chute means; a towel receiving member limitably rotatably mounted in said cabinet means; said towel receiving'member having means constructed and operative to-catch a fabric article inserted into said chute means when said towel receiving member is in normal at-rest position; second chute means within said cabinet means constructed and operative to hold a stack of fabric articlesymeans constructed and operative to maintain said stack of said fabric articles in proper position in said second chute means and to aid in moving said fabric articles down said chute; roller means mounted in said cabinet means at the lower end portion of said second chute means, said roller means having means thereon to grasp a fabric article and being constructed and operative upon rotation to pick up a fabric article from the lower end portion of said stack of same and pass such article to an opening in said cabinet means; first sprocket means constructed and operative to turn said towel receiving member; second sprocket means constructed and operative to rotate said roller to a cocked position; means carried by said second sprocket means constructed and operative to engage said roller to rotate said roller to said cocked position and then to be disengageable from roller rotating position; means by which to .turn said towel receiving member constructed and operative to be operated from outside said cabinet means; a chain anchored in one end portion by a resilient means and passing over said first sprocket. and said second sprocket means, said means to turn said towel receiving member constructed and operative to move said chain upon operation to turn said towel receiving member and to turn said roller member to said cocked position, said resilient means being constructed and operative to retract said chain and rotate said towel receivingmember back to said normal position; resilient operating means operatively attached to said roller memberto be loaded upon rotation of said roller member to said cocked position and to work to continue to rotate said roller member to pick-up and deliver a clean towel from said stack when said roller memberis released from said cocked position; first single lever means pivotally mounted in said cabinet means; single-arm-member means pivotally mounted in said cabinet means, a portion of said arm member means positioned operatively relative to said towel receiving member and said arm member means directly engageable with said first'lever means to hold same, said arm member means and towel receiving member being positioned and operative sothat said arm member means is pivoted by movement of asoiled towel in contact therewith upon turning of said towel receiving member having said soiled towel therewith and to thereupon release said first lever means; second single lever means pivotally mounted in said cabinet means, directly operatively connected to saidfirstlever means in moving relation and directly engageable with said means carried by said second sprocket means to place same and said roller in turning engagement to turn said roller; said second sprocket means constructed and operative to directly engage said second lever means to reposition said first lever means invholding position with said arm member means .upon rotationafter said pickup and delivery of a clean towel from said stack of same; said dispensing apparatus constructed and operative to position gfOI hand withdrawal from said cabinet means 'a *coflstfucted and operative to p itiqn f orghandwithdrawal '15 fabrictartieie upon inserting anotherufabric article into the upper end portion of said first-named chute and actuating said apparatus operating means; and said cabinet means having a compartment for storing said inserted fabric articles.

3. Mechanically operated apparatus for dispensing a fabric article therefrom upon inserting a similar fabric article in such apparatus which comprises, in combination; chute means; a fabric article receiving member having means constructed and operative to catch a fabric article inserted into said chute means when said fabric article receiving member is in at-rest position; means constructed and operative to hold a stack of fabric articles; a rotatable and cockable dispensing member having means to grasp a fabric article and being constructed and operative upon rotation from a cocked position to pick up a fabric article from said stack of same and deliver such article; turning means connected to said fabric article receiving member and said dispensing member constructed and operative to turn said receiving member from said at-rest position and to turn said dispensing member into said cocked position; means connected to said dispensing member constructed and operative to be loaded upon said turning of said dispensing member to said cocked position and to further turn said dispensing member to deliver a fabric article from said stack upon unloading of said means; first single lever means; single arm member means, a portion of said arm member means positioned operatively relatively to said towel receiving member and said arm member means directly engageable with said first lever means to hold same, said arm member means and towel receiving member being positioned and operative so that said arm member means is pivoted by movement of a soiled towel in contact therewith upon turning of said soiled towel receiving member having said soiled towel therewith and to thereupon release said first lever means; second single lever means directly operatively connected with said turning means for said dispensing member and constructed and operative to permit said dispensing member to rotate and operate; said arm member means operatable to release said first lever means upon contact with said arm member means of a fabric article on said fabric article receiving member in turning relation, and said first lever means directly operatively connected to said second lever means to operate same; operating means constructed and operative to operate said turning means with said fabric article receiving member and dispensing member; and said apparatus constructed and operative to deliver a fabric article from said stack of same upon inserting another fabric article into said chute and actuating said operating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,856,051 Russell Oct. 14, 1958 

